Typographical assembling and distributing machine



G. E. MARLATT Aug. 12, 1930.

TYPOGRAPHI CAL AS S MBL ING AND DI STRIBUTI NG NACHI "1E Fleduly 5. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug.. 12, 1930. G. E. MARLATT TYPOGRAPHICQL ASSEMBLING AND DISTRIBUTING MAGHINE Filed July 5. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 12,1930

erloiicfnV MARLTT; or PAs'ADEim,r` oAiiiFoRNiA invention relates to typographical1ma-'5 cliines ofthe kind fin which circulating mat# iices are released, from 'a magazine and pasar): Y sembledfin line and then presented'y tofa mold 5 in which theprinting typeis cast against'the A mon in this disclosure and in `my PatentNo. `1 1,679,318.l Particularlygit relates to lim-f proved .means for conductingfthe matrices into the magazine channels', with the objecty in view "of rendering `this operation morepos-'- itive fthan heretofore and also simplifying nection'whereby thel distributing and releasmatricesin dropping from Athe' distributing `line of` matrices, the matrices `subseqiiently'.y being `distributed to their` individual chany nels in the magazine `from which they-were.'

` l t 1 capement initurn renders possible'V the simplification of the keyboard mechanism. An example-of the'partitioned entrance above released.

Certain features clearly indicated simi;`

lar reference characterswill'be foundin com;

theV -niachinev and increasing the :capacity of the vmagazine without increasing its size.' Heretofore' theL lmagazines of linotype'I ma- '-5 chinees havebeen made about, one-third widfy er at their receiving. endvtha'n the -accumula-L i tive thickness of the*storedjmatrices' would actually' require. Thek necessity. for the eX! cess widthof the-magazines at their" receivf y.

V ing end has been ldue-toV ther factythat'l the b'arfcoiildjnot clear theilowerl distributor screw V;-*therefo`referiti-ance `partitions "were provided Vequalifin, number! to the :magazine y channels, the resultaiitchannels between such.. partitions Vbeing of sufiici'entldimensions to'z" receive the matficesioiiowing .their meer,

ference with the lower distributor screw.v It

isV the width1 of these]v partitioned entrance present invention'provides for 4eliminating theyentrance partitions and `substitiiting therefor opposed-groove channelssiinilar to o those in therv magazine 'andiincontiniiationj v .Y r

ymachine injwhich the Vmatrices are delivered invertical: position to the magazine-entrance groovesand lthereforenecessitating a curved This View showsthe ap` p l thereof. Vith suchFconstruction the magazines vmay be rectangularin shaperinstead of the usual trapezoidal form, andthe channels therein ymay be parallel? thusgreatlyfreduc'- ing the manufacturingcost of: themagazine.y

Also, the matrices willmore readily enter,

travel through,- and escapefrom theparallel channels than inY the case f of converging channels; the ynia-trices lwill f be vdistributed channels that'hasfdeterminedjthe width of y the magazine at the receiving end,'!an`d this entrance channel;

tionalchannels maybe added tothe magazine {without increasing its weightf' Parallel'ing' .the `channels yof f the magazine also renders,v f

referred to Vas eliminated" may be`V found in thevpate'nt to O. Mergenthaler, No. 43655321 fiirtherprincipalobjectin viewis to pro'- fvide" for `selectively `distributing*two sets of matricesk to a single `magazine and releasing them therefrom', together with an interconuse. ,l /r 7 1 In the'faceompanyngdrawings: v'

thesetl of matrices selected for `iquicllzer':by-1 reason ofl the reduced width of *the magazineatf-itsreceiving end, and addi-` 1 Fig'. 1 shows 4the usual trapezifoimfina-:ga-4

1 zine overlying the rectangularjformfof magaf zine showninf'connection With the principal figures of the drawingsj and illustrates how tlie magazinevv mafv bel widened at itsflowerf f end narrowed,` at' thefreceivingfend iii zine between aL rectangular f magazine off less size buth withanf equal niimber of channels, ,.,rectangular"magazine'as wide as'ithe 'trapeziform fmagaziiieat the receiving endy butcapable of containing more rchannels than i v theiisiialtrapeziform magazine. K

Fig.` 3 vertical longitudinalview, part-` ly in section,".of the distributorgniagazine,

and assembler-*delivery throat'of alinotype plicatioii' of my distributor improvements to ordertovjprovide foradditional*channels without increasingitsltotalarea'andweight. Fig. 2V shows the .usualtrapezifornimaga-` 7 yacmach'ine or that portion thereof thus confstruct'ed, together with shift mechanism interconnecting the distributor improvement Vand theescapement operating reeds.'` i p lo@ Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on the approximate line 444 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through part of a linotype machine, showing the application of my distributor improvements to a linotype machine in which the matrices are delivered in a non-vertical position to dis'- vtributing points and the `usual curved entrance channel is eliminated.

Fig. 6 is a section on the approximate line 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan ViewV taken on the line 7-7 .of Fig. 3. l

Y Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the `matrices X are in usual manner conveyed by means of the distributor Vscrews 1, 2 and 3 along thedis' tributor bar`4 until they reach a point above i their individualchannels.

a combination of ribs 5 on the bar 4above' The omission of any entrance channel indicates the retention of a corresponding combination of teeth on. Y the matrices destined for such channel; therefore the matrices are released from the bar when their retained combinations clear the ends of a combination of ribs thereon. As commonly constructed, the matrices have their` screw-engaging lugs flush with their leased from the bar 4, but will be supported by means of their upper lugs on rails 7 `and 8 to eac while suspended from the distributor bar.'

until they reach opposed grooves 7 andy 8' -formed on facing sides thereof, as more fully explained in my co-pending application Seria1No.546,383 (now Pat-ent 1\I0.f1,679,317).l With? reference to the rails 7' and 8, this pres-` ent invention is concerned principally with the Van les of the grooves 7 and -8a relative other and relative to the matrices It will be noted that the outer grooves 8 and 8 arecontinuous with similar grooves 9* in Ythe magazine entrance 9 and that these 'grooves 9 are incontinuation of the grooves 10* in the magazine 10; but the inner grooves 7 are-of necessity interrupted by thelower distributor screw 3. The angle ofthe outer `X* enter the grooves 7, 8. .grooves 7* are parallel with the opposite groovesfS `but are of receding depth to avoid 'rooves 8 relative to the suspended matrices u1s such that the lower, outerlug X? of the matrices will clear the ribs separating the 'grooves 8 while the matrices are being con-` veyed on the distributor bar 4. -When the matrices e reach their individual channels their lower inner lugs X2 immediately entery the inner grooves 9 and both upper lugs X,

The inner i interference with the horizontal travel of the 1 matrices; hence both upper lugs on the matrices will remain in their channels except as the inner channel is interru ted by the lower distributor screw. A short istance below the lower distributor screw the grooves 9* in the magazine entrance channel approach each other, as at 9", therefore before the inner upper matrix lug Xa leaves its groove 7'* both lower matrix lugs will be fully engaged in additional steepness of the groove in the lower screw results from making the lower screw of less diameter than the upper screws. In addition I prefer to make the thread in the lower screw shallower than usual, especially ywhen employed as in Fig. 5, in order to insure against interference between the body of the matrix and the screw thread. When employed as in Fig. 3, the shallow thread renders iit possible to make the Vgrooves 7., 8,* COrrespondinglyless steep. It will 4be apparent that the channel angles as described and illustrated are such that only one matrix lu at a' time may remain out of engagement wit its groove,and the simultaneous engagement of three lugs with their grooves will retain the matrix in such position that the disengaged-lug willenter or xrefenterits groove at the appropriate tune.

This arran' ment makes ssible the elimination of t e usual magazine'entranee partitions and aconsequent'reduction in the width of the magazine as lstated in the beginning :of this specification and in the description of Figs. land 2 of the drawings. Only a. suicient number of the usual magazine e11- -trance partitions 9-are retained to space apartthe inner and outer channel plates of the magazine entrance l9 and thesefmay be inza plane in continuation of the magazine partitions. The outer grooved rail 8 is secured to a pair of brackets 11 movable with a shaft 12 mounted on the distributor beam Vcorresponding parts. But it will be noted that in Fig. 5 no magazine entrance channel is employed, and its elimination is made possible yby the improvements above described in connection with the rails 7 and 8. The disclosures ofFigs. 3 and 5 maybe combined in 'the same multiple-magazine machine as inthe itil 'steeper angle than the magazine 10 ingorder that the initial drop of the matrices may be fast enough to cause them to enter themaga-` zine in time to avoid interfering witha following matrix. This angle of the distributor bar may be more or less according to requirements. f

In orderto insure that the inner `matrix lugs will readily enter the inner channelf grooves 9a, I prefer to flare the entrances t0 these grooves, as shown in Fig. 4, the. flared portion being formed in a bar 7 e; similarly, as shown in Fig. 6,the outer grooves 8a are flared near their lower ends hin order that the outer lower matrix lugs X1 may readily enter therein. As further insurance that the matrix lugs X3 will enter the flared entrances to the channelsQa, the grooves 7 a in theinner channel rail 7 may be choked toward their lower ends as illustrated in Fig. l4. For manufacturing convenience, the outerrail 8 is constructed in two parts, the lower `part having the flared portion Seof the channels,

while in the upper partthe channels may bev straight, all as illustrated in the drawings, the twoparts being secured to the brackets 11V as before described. f

The foregoing description explains my l magazine entrance channely improvements as used `in connection with magazines containing a single font of matrices. Inorder that the same improvements may beemployed for delivering matrices to a magazine containing two fonts .of matrices, I provide as follows.: The channel grooves .9 in the magazine `entrance 9 and also the grooves 10a in the magazine 10 are provided in pairs, each one'of a pair of magazine' channels containing; Y Y Vtrices of similar value or character but of d1fchannels. Referring to Figs. 4 and 6,it.will f be noted that a single .opposed-groove"channel in the rails 7 and 8 and bar 7e serves for each pair of grooved channels in the vmagazine entrance9. Alternate grooves 9L in the entrance channel are flared at' their entrance, as at 9". In Fig. 6 the entrance rails 7 and 8 and bar 7 e are shown as adjusted to deliver matrices to the flared channels 9a, andin Fig; 4 the rails and bar are adjusted to register with the alternate set of channels 9%.` In order that the rails and bar may be thus adjusted longitudinally, the innerrail 7fand bar 7eV are secured to apair of brackets20 mounted to slide on the distributor rail 4, and the shaft 12 which supports the outer rail 8 slides in a pair of rigid brackets 21. The hub portion ofthebrackets 11 Vwhich support the outer rail is provided with a groove 11c4which is lengaged by a tongue 20 zine entrance.

on each bracket movement of the inner brackets 2O on the distributor rail 4 will thereforey cause the outer brackets 11 to move therewith and the channeled rails will accordingly. move together "for registration witha selected set of channels 9a in the maga- Since the distance between different matrix channels varies according to the varying thickness of matrices according to character, and the movement of the rails 7 and, 8 and bar 7e must belimited to the distance between two closely adjoining channels, it therefore is necessary to flare alternate magazine entrance grooves 9a varying amounts according to the distance therebetween. It will be apparent from a compari-- son of Figs. 4 and 6fthat a movement of the rails and bar a distance equal to the distance between the narrowest pair of channels, will Vserve for dehvering matrices to all wider U pairs of channels regardless of their varying measurments. The rails 7 and 8 and bar 7 are shiftable to the left from the position they occupy in Fig. 4 as determined bythe `stop 4a, and since the stop 4a at the left of Fig. 4 appears at the right of` Fig. 6, the

" ing two sets of matrices are provided with Vrails and bar are shiftable to the left from Y their `position in Fig. 6 back to the position two sets of escapements'27,y one set having its contact point 27'LL in a rear position and the other setthereof having the similar point in a forward position, in order that the keyboard-controlledactuating reeds 17h.V may be adjusted from one set to the other according 'to the set of matrices selected for use. In the present case I provide for simultaneously shifting both the distributing and releasing devices in a manner. convenient for the operator when seated at the keyboard. With this purpose in view, an operating Vshaft 22 is vmountedat its upper end in the distributor beam 13, and at its lower andL forward end in a bracket 23 extending from the usual assembler entrance throat 16. The shaft 22 has secured thereto an arm 24 having a groove 24a which engages one of the brackets 20 lbefore described as movably supporting therear channel entrance rail 7 and bar 7e;

hence, when the shaft 22 is rocked in manner to` be described, the channel entrance elements will be shifted in a selected direction. Movement of the brackets 2O rand other parts is limitedby stops 4a (Fig. 6). At its forward end theshaft 22 is provided with a crank arm 25 directly controlled by a'link 26 guided in an opening 16a through the .L

throat 16. VAn intermediate 4link 28 connects the link 26 with an operating handle 29 secured to a shaft 31 mounted at the rear of the Vassembler throat.` The frame 42-44 which .supports the escapement actuating reeds 17h is connected to the operating handle V29 by means of a link 30. It will he apparentthat through the connections as described, the channel entrance elements and escapementactuating reeds will move in unison with movement of the handle 29 in a selected direction as determined by the set of matrices selected for use. l

Having described my invention, its construction and mode of operation, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l said interrupted grooves and their outer upof the United States, is:

1. In a typographical machine, in combination, matrices having lugs on each end of opposite edges thereof, a distributor bar on which said matrices are conveyed for release to individual opposed-groove channels, upper and lower distributor screws for conveying said matrices to their points of release from saiddistributor bar, and means for permitting the lugs on said matrices to engageV the grooves of said channels and guide said matrices therethrough regardless o the fact that the continuity of said channels is broken by one of said distributor screws, said means consisting in so shaping the grooves of said channels that only one of the lugs on said matrices will be out of engagement with said grooves at one and the same time after said matrices have been disengaged from said distributor bar and distributor screws and while passing through their channels.

2. A combination as specied in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the matrices therein recited may be released from said distributor bar in advance of their channels and be supported independently of said bar while being conveyed to their channels.

3. In a typographical machine, in combination with ardistributor bar and matrices suspended therefrom for release to their individual channels, opposed-groove channels to receive said matrices when so released, lugs on each end of each edge of said matrices for engaging the grooves of said channels, adistributor screw for engaging the lower inner lug on one edge of said matrices, and means for tilting said matrices in order that the upper inner lug thereon will pass said distributor screw when the matrices arereleased from said distributor bar, said means Vcomprising an inner groove interrupted by said distributor screw and having its portion above said distributor screw decreasing in depth from a point outside the upper lugs of said matrices to a point beneath said lugs and adjacent said distributor screw, the portion of said groove below said screw being of uniform depth and substantially parallel to a line extended through the center of said distributor bar and said matrices when suspended therefrom, and a continuous outer groove opposite said upper portion of said interrupted channel and said distributor screw, said continuous groove extending angularly relative to said Vyond continuing equally spaced away from the lower portion of said interrupted channel, whereby said lower inner lugs on said matrices become a pivotal point about which said matrices are tilted while their inner upper lugs are guidedV in the upper portion of per lugs are guided in said outer grooves, the lower'outer lugs engaging said outer channel at that part thereof where it is deflected towards said center line, and said deliected part serving to force the upper inner lugs of the matrices into said inner groove after they have passed said distributor screw.

4. A combination and structure as set forth in claim 3 characterized by the fact that the center line of the distributor bar therein recited is disposed at :in angle between perpendicular and horizontal, that the inner and outer upper lugs on the matrices are guided for propulsion by inner and outer upper distributor screws parallelling said distributor bar and that the thread of the distributor screw which engages the lower inner lug of the matrices is of less depth than the threads of said up er distributor screws in order that said distri utor crew will present a minimum of interference with the inner upper lugs of said matrices when passing said screw.

5. A combination and structure as set forth 1n claim Scharacterized by the fact that the portion of the outer grooves therein recited as being disposed at an angle to the center line of the distributor bar are formed in a plate mounted for upward and outward movement in order to rovide access to the remalining portions o, the opposed-groove channe s.

v 6. In a typographical machine, in combination, matrices having upper and lower lugs on opposite edges thereof, two upper screws for engaging the upper lugs of said matrices and conveying them to points of distribution, a lower similar screw for engaging a lower luvr of saidY matrices, opposed-groove channeIs for receiving the lugs of said matrices at their points of distribution, and means for -providing a three-lug vguidance for said matrices while passing said lower screw,

ided in said channels, said means consisting of deflecting one of the grooves of said channels from its upper end to a point beyond and out of interference with a lower matrix lug and below said lower distributor screw without interrupting its continuity, and similarly deflecting the opposed groove of said channels from its upper end to a point where it is interrupted by said lower screw, whereby said matrices will be deflected to cause an upper lug thereof to pass said lower screw, a

llugs on opposite edges thereof,`a distributor bar from which said matricesaresuspended;

forrelease at their individual destinations,`a pair of parallel and opposite screws forengaging the correspondingly*opposite 'upper lugs ofsaid matrices and-conveying them to their individuahdestinations,y and a third` screw for engaging a :lower lug of said matrices in `co-operation with said pair "of Y screws; a series of opposed-groove channels'v for receiving the lugs of.,s"a1d matrices when released from said distributor rail, one `of the channels being continuous but receding in. po-

p p p g andqtowardssaid lmatrix whenk 1n front of 1 said groovedrall, and a second grooved rail i fr grooves of each of said channels being interf rupted by said third distributor screw and the"V portion thereof lying above said screw 1re?v ceding in depth towards'said screw-in order to cause an upper lug offsaid matrices to clear said screw,the oppositegrooveof each of said sition to a point below said'third distributor Y screw-in orderfto clearlaloiwerlug of said tributor rail, said 'channelapproaching said f interrupted. `channel atja fpoint'below said matrices prior to their release'from said 'disthirdscrewY andV continuinguniformly spaced therefrom to the end offsaid Channels. f

`8l 'In atypographical machine,lin combination, matrices having upper `and-lower lugs on opposite Sedges thereof, a distributor-bar from which said matrices/,are suspended for f release uattheir individual destinations thereon, a pair of parallelandjopposite conveyer screws for'engaging the corresponding upper lugs of said matricesand conveying themto their individual destinations, a third screw co-operating therewith and engaging one ofy thek lower lugs on said matrices, opposed grooves terminating adjacent the individual points of release of said matrices and in position to receive the upperlugs thereof, one of said grooves receding in depth between the upper lug of said matrices and said third distributor screw in order to guide said upper lug clear of the thread of said third screw, and the opposite groove receding in'position between the upper lug of said matrix and a point beyond and below the lower lug thereof in order that it will not interfere with theA travel of said matrices to their points of release under control of said distributor screws and will serve to guide the upper lug of said matrix while passing said third distributor screw following the release of the matrix lugs on said matrix and azlower screwv for from the distributor bar, said lower dis,-` tributor screw/serving to Aforce said matrix intosaid opposite groove. 3

' 9. .In a typographical machine, a distribue` torA bar, aimatrix suspended' therefrom `for" 70 travel thereon but capable ofovbeingfreleased lsiony on said distributor` bar, said grooves be`- ing deiiected relative to said'matrx whensus-l pendedfrom said distributor jbar ingorder that f. aloWer-lug onfsaidmatrix will pass the par,-

titions ofsaid grooveswhile being conveyed v on'saiddistributor bar" l0.` `In av-typographical machine, in combi, s nation with a distributor bari'for ,matrices and anfoblong matrix having lugs on each endofits longer edges, a single upper con-V veyor screw for engaging the upper lug on ,one edge of said matrix, a secondscrew for sim- Ulli ilarly engaging the upper llug on the opposite edge of saidmatri'x, a third screw for engagingjthe llower lug on said opposites/edge, a grooved `rail between said second `andvthird screws, thegrooves in said .rail receding? in depth .from ysaid second tosaid third screw opposite said rail with thereceding grooves andfsaid third conveyer screw, the grooves vm0` in said second rail being of uniformdepth but krecedingfrom saidmatrix to clear the lower f lug thereon when 'said matrix is between saidV groovedrails.y

11. In a typoghraphical machine, in eombim5 nation,xaV distributor bar'vfor matrices, maf;A trices -havinglugs on opposite Lends `of ,each l` edge thereof, an upper -distributoliscrew for `engagingthe. upper lug on one edge of said matrices, Lanupp'erand alower distributor n.: screw for engaging, respectively, the'upper andlower flugs on fthe-other edgeof said mad y trices, 'and lopposedgroove channelsI forV receiving andlengaging the lugs of said :Ina-y trices;and Yconducting them; from said dis# 11.-; p,

tributor bar, one groove of each ,of said `channels being interrupted by said lower distri-buter screw Aand the opposite` groove being continuous, theupper end o'f thefupper sec-,1`

Y tion of` said interrupted groove registeringin NoY depth with fthe groove in'said upper distribu-V tor screw for receiving an upper lug lof said matricesfromfsaid'screw, and the lower 4end of said channel; section clearingthe lower distributorscrew for 'the purpose of deecting 1"' said upper lug to pass said lower screw, the lower-section of said interrupted channel reg-r isteringin depth withthe groove insaid lower screw for receiving a lower lug of said matrices, the upper portion of said continuous lill" sof. v

channel being parallel with the line of the upper section of said interrupted channel extended to a point beyond said lower distributor screw, and the lower portion thereof being ment with said opposed-groove channels atV deected toward the lower section of said interrupted channel, in order that not more than one lug on said matrices will be out of engagethe saine time.

12. In a tyv ographical machine, opposedgroove channe s for conducting matrices from a distributor bar,one channel of each of said grooves being continuous kand the opposite channel being interrupted by a distributor screw, andy means for permitting an upper channel-engaging lug on said matrices to pass said distributor screw without dislodging said matrices from their channels, said means consisting in offsetting said interrupted channel an amount equal to its depth and at a oint between its upper and lower sections, an similarly offsetting said continuous channel at a point below the offset in said. interrupted channel.

13. A `structure as set forth in claim 12 characterized by the fact that the portion of the opposedroove channels beyond the oil'- setting in sai channels constitutesthemagazine in which the matrices are stored.

14. A structure as set forth in claim 12 characterized by the fact that the portion of the op osed-groove cliannelsbelow and beryond t e olfsetting in said channels consti- Vtutes a magazine-entrance element through which the matrices are conducted to a storage f j magazine.

15. A ystructure as set forth in claim 12 characterized by the fact that the portion of the continuous channels therein recited as being above theoii'set in said channels, is mounted for upward and outward movement in order to provide access tothe matrices and structure normally concealed thereby. Y

16. In a typographical machine, in combination, a distributor for matrices, an assembler delivery throat, a channeled magazine through which matrices pass yfrom the distributor to the assembler delivery throat, twoy sets of channels therein adapting said magazine to accommodate two sets o matrices, a distributor bar having a single set of matrix releasing combinations, a single set of escapement-actuating reeds adjustable to release matrices of a selected font from they magazine, a series of channels between said magazine and said distributor bar equal in number to the matrix-releasing combinations on said distributor bar and adjustable to deliver matrices to a selected set of channels in said magazine, and an interconnection between said adjustable series of channels and said adjustable escapement-actuating reeds for causing said channels and said reeds to matrices, a set of actuat' fromrone to the other of said sets of escapeuse.

17. In a typographical machine, in combination, a channeled ma azine for matrices, a

distributor bar for .re easingmatrices des` tined to said ma azine, a series of opposed groove channels or conducting the matrices from the distributor bar, a lower distributor screw interrupting said series of yop kgroove channels, and a midway flare in the oves of said series of channels for insuring the enga ement of the matrices with said grooves whi e passing said lower distributor screw.

18. A combination as set forth in claim 17 i characterized by the fact that the series of opposed-groove channels therein: recited are adjustable relative to a selected series of unequally spaced pairs of opposed-groove channels for accommodating two sets of matrices, and including aliare at the lmouth of one channel iny eachA pair thereof in order that the singly, a set of escapements for eac font of reeds shiftable ments, and interconnecting means whereb said intermediate series of channels and sai actuating reeds maybe shifted in unison accordingto the set of matrices selected for Signed at Pasadena. Los Angeles County, Cali ornia, this 29th day of June, 1928.

GEORGE E. MARLATT.

move in unison relative to the font of matrices selected for use. 

